NameCensus.

UK surname

Mathias

A surname derived from the given name Matthew, which means "gift of God" in Hebrew.

In the 1881 census there were 1,818 people recorded with the Mathias surname, ranking it #2,394 among surnames in the records. By 2016, the modern count was 2,303, ranked #2,821, down from #2,394 in 1881.

The strongest historical links point to Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary and Camrose. In the modern distribution records, the strongest local clusters include Pembrokeshire.

Across the surname records, the highest recorded count for Mathias is 2,358 in 2014. Compared with 1881, the name has grown by 26.7%.

1881 census count

1,818

Ranked #2,394

Modern count

2,303

2016, ranked #2,821

Peak year

2014

2,358 bearers

Map years

9

1851 to 2016

Key insights

  • Mathias had 1,818 recorded bearers in 1881, making it the #2,394 surname in that year.
  • The latest modern count shown here is 2,303 in 2016, ranked #2,821.
  • Within the historical census years, the highest count was 2,350 in 1911.
  • The contemporary neighbourhood profile most associated with the surname is Rural Amenity.

Mathias surname distribution map

The map shows where the Mathias surname is concentrated in each census or modern distribution year. Darker areas mean a stronger local concentration.

Distribution map

Mathias surname density by area, 1881 census.

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Lower densityMedium densityHigh density

Timeline

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Mathias over time

The table below tracks recorded surname counts and rank from the 19th-century census years through the modern adult-register period.

Year Period Count Rank
1851 historical 1,335 #2,149
1861 historical 1,204 #2,356
1881 historical 1,818 #2,394
1891 historical 1,681 #2,680
1901 historical 1,948 #2,712
1911 historical 2,350 #2,177
1997 modern 2,162 #2,864
1998 modern 2,264 #2,847
1999 modern 2,251 #2,877
2000 modern 2,256 #2,863
2001 modern 2,215 #2,850
2002 modern 2,258 #2,864
2003 modern 2,202 #2,862
2004 modern 2,181 #2,893
2005 modern 2,206 #2,831
2006 modern 2,191 #2,850
2007 modern 2,211 #2,850
2008 modern 2,229 #2,852
2009 modern 2,288 #2,849
2010 modern 2,338 #2,854
2011 modern 2,307 #2,851
2012 modern 2,244 #2,872
2013 modern 2,350 #2,797
2014 modern 2,358 #2,806
2015 modern 2,318 #2,820
2016 modern 2,303 #2,821

Geography

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Where Mathias' are most common

Historical parish links are strongest around Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos), St Mary, Camrose, Cardiff St John and St Mary and Swansea. These are the places where the surname stands out most clearly in the older records.

The modern local-area list points to Pembrokeshire. Treat these as concentration signals, not proof that every family line began there.

Some modern areas include a three-digit suffix, such as Leeds 110. The suffix is a small-area code, so it stays in the table while the prose uses the plain place name.

Top historical parishes

Rank Parish Area
1 Ystradyfodwg (incl. Rhigos) Glamorganshire
2 St Mary Pembrokeshire
3 Camrose Pembrokeshire
4 Cardiff St John and St Mary Glamorganshire
5 Swansea Glamorganshire

Top modern areas

Rank Area District
1 Pembrokeshire 001 Pembrokeshire
2 Pembrokeshire 002 Pembrokeshire
3 Pembrokeshire 003 Pembrokeshire
4 Pembrokeshire 008 Pembrokeshire
5 Pembrokeshire 009 Pembrokeshire

Forenames

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First names often paired with Mathias

These lists show first names that appear often with the Mathias surname in historical and recent records.

Modern profile

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Neighbourhood profile for Mathias

Modern surname records can be compared with neighbourhood classifications. For Mathias, this points to the kinds of places where the surname is most concentrated today.

These neighbourhood labels describe areas, not individual people. They are useful because surnames often cluster through family history, migration, housing patterns and local work. A surname can be strongest in one type of neighbourhood even when people with that name live across the country.

The UK classification gives the national picture. The London classification is more specific to the capital, where housing, age profile, tenure and population mix can look quite different from the rest of the UK.

UK neighbourhood type

UK Output Area Classification

Supergroup

Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities

Group

Rural Amenity

Nationally, the Mathias surname is most associated with neighbourhoods classed as Rural Amenity, within Suburbanites and Peri-Urbanities. This does not mean every Mathias household fits that profile, but it gives a useful signal about where the modern surname distribution is strongest.

Read profile summary

Group profile

This Group comprises older parents or retirees, with no resident dependent children, and with the lowest residential densities in this Supergroup. Predominantly UK-born, residents typically live in detached houses, although others do live in semi-detached and terraced properties. The level of multiple car ownership is the highest in this Supergroup. Most houses are owner occupied although social renting is also present. Many concentrations occur in high amenity rural locations, such as Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

Wider pattern

Pervasive throughout the UK, members of this Supergroup typically own (or are buying) their detached, semi-detached or terraced homes. They are also typically educated to A Level/Highers or degree level and work in skilled or professional occupations. Typically born in the UK, some families have children, although the median adult age is above 45 and some property has become under-occupied after children have left home. This Supergroup is pervasive not only in suburban locations, but also in neighbourhoods at or beyond the edge of cities that adjoin rural parts of the country.

London neighbourhood type

London Output Area Classification

Supergroup

The Greater London Mix

Group

Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers

Within London, Mathias is most associated with areas classed as Social Rented Sector Professional Support Workers, part of The Greater London Mix. This gives the surname a London-specific profile rather than forcing the capital into the same pattern as the rest of the country.

Read profile summary

Group profile

Mainly located in Inner London, these neighbourhoods retain a diverse employment structure, with some concentration in associated professional and technical occupations rather than skilled trades or construction. Social renting is more common and levels of homeownership are low. Many residents identify as Black. There is a lower than average rate of marriage or civil partnership, few that are very old (85 or over) and higher than average incidence of disability.

Wider London pattern

A Supergroup embodying London's diversity in many respects, apart from low numbers of residents identifying as of Bangladeshi, Indian, Pakistani or Other (non-Chinese) Asian ethnicity. There is lower than average prevalence of families with dependent children, while there are above average occurrences of never-married individuals and single-person households. The age distribution is skewed towards younger, single residents and couples without children, with many individuals identifying as of mixed or multiple ethnicity. Social rented or private rented housing is slightly more prevalent than average, and many residents live in flats. Individuals typically work in professional and associated roles in public administration, education or health rather than in elementary occupations in agriculture, energy, water, construction or manufacturing. Incidence of students is slightly below average. Individuals declaring no religion are more prevalent than average and non-use of English at home is below average.

Healthy neighbourhoods

Access to healthy assets and hazards

Mathias is most concentrated in decile 7 for access to healthy assets and hazards. This places the surname near the middle of the scale.

Lower deciles point towards weaker access to healthy assets or stronger exposure to local hazards. Higher deciles point towards stronger access and fewer hazards.

7
Lower access Higher access

Neighbourhood deprivation

Index of Multiple Deprivation

Mathias falls in decile 7 for neighbourhood deprivation. This puts the surname near the middle of the scale.

Decile 1 represents the more deprived end of the scale. Decile 10 represents the less deprived end.

7
More deprived Less deprived

Broadband speed

Fixed broadband download speed

The modern neighbourhood pattern for Mathias is most associated with a typical fixed broadband download band of 30-40 mbit/s.

The scale below places that band in context, from slower local download bands through to faster ones.

6
Slower band Faster band

Area snapshot

Ethnic group estimate

Most common ethnic group estimate
White - British

This describes the area pattern most associated with Mathias, not the ethnicity of every person with the surname.

Meaning and origin of Mathias

The surname Mathias originated in Ancient Greece, derived from the Hebrew name "Mattithyahu," which means "gift of God." It is believed to have been introduced to Europe during the spread of Christianity in the early centuries AD.

Mathias is a variant spelling of the name Matthias, which was the name of one of the twelve apostles in the New Testament. This apostolic connection likely contributed to the name's early popularity and spread throughout the Christian world.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the surname Mathias can be found in the Domesday Book, a manuscript record of landowners in England compiled in 1086 by order of William the Conqueror. This suggests that the name had already been established in parts of Europe by the 11th century.

During the Middle Ages, the name Mathias was particularly prevalent in Germany, France, and parts of Eastern Europe. It was often associated with religious figures and scholars, such as Mathias Flacius Illyricus (1520-1575), a prominent Lutheran reformer and theologian from Croatia.

In England, the surname Mathias has been documented as early as the 13th century, with records showing individuals like Richard Mathias, who lived in Somerset in 1275. The name was also found in various place names, such as Mathias Croft in Yorkshire, which was mentioned in records from the 14th century.

Notable individuals with the surname Mathias throughout history include:

1. Sir Rhys Mathias (c. 1553-1624), a Welsh politician and member of Parliament. 2. Benjamin Mathias (1634-1696), an English clergyman and author. 3. Thomas James Mathias (1766-1835), an English poet and satirist. 4. Adolphe Mathias (1812-1896), a French lawyer and writer. 5. Alphonse Mathias (1855-1923), a French politician and statesman.

The surname Mathias has been carried across continents and cultures, with variations in spelling and pronunciation reflecting the diverse regions where it has been adopted. While its roots can be traced back to ancient times, the name Mathias continues to resonate as a reminder of its biblical and historical significance.

Sourced from namecensus.com.

1881 census detail

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Mathias families in the 1881 census

These tables use 1881 census entries for people recorded with the Mathias surname. Use the location tables for concentration, then the name and occupation tables for the people behind the surname.

Top counties

Total is the county count. Frequency and index adjust for local population size, so they are better concentration signals. Pembrokeshire leads with 769 Mathias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 136.37x.

County Total Index
Pembrokeshire 769 136.37x
Glamorgan 256 8.29x
Carmarthenshire 163 21.80x
Middlesex 130 0.73x
Cardiganshire 76 17.56x
Lancashire 59 0.28x
Brecknockshire 54 15.22x
Surrey 49 0.57x
Monmouthshire 48 3.74x
Cheshire 26 0.66x
Denbighshire 26 3.88x
Flintshire 12 2.52x
Gloucestershire 12 0.34x
Kent 11 0.18x
Shropshire 11 0.72x
Nottinghamshire 9 0.38x
Sussex 9 0.30x
Yorkshire 9 0.05x
Cumberland 8 0.52x
Lanarkshire 8 0.14x
Anglesey 7 2.23x
Buckinghamshire 6 0.56x
Somerset 6 0.21x
Essex 5 0.14x
Devon 4 0.11x
Dorset 4 0.34x
Merionethshire 4 1.23x
Midlothian 4 0.17x
Staffordshire 4 0.07x
Berkshire 3 0.23x
Caernarfonshire 3 0.42x
Leicestershire 3 0.15x
Royal Navy 3 1.42x
Channel Islands 2 0.38x
Durham 2 0.04x
Hampshire 2 0.06x
Lincolnshire 2 0.07x
Norfolk 2 0.07x
Warwickshire 2 0.04x
Aberdeenshire 1 0.06x
Bedfordshire 1 0.11x
Cornwall 1 0.05x
Derbyshire 1 0.04x
Herefordshire 1 0.14x
Suffolk 1 0.05x

Top districts and towns

Districts give a more local view than counties. Total shows raw records, while frequency and index show local concentration. Pembroke St Mary in Pembrokeshire leads with 91 Mathias' recorded in 1881 and an index of 125.31x.

Place Total Index
Pembroke St Mary 91 125.31x
Steynton 53 290.73x
Aberdare 33 15.56x
St Marylebone London 33 3.48x
Newport 32 350.11x
Swansea Town 31 12.24x
Cardigan St Mary 30 180.94x
Haverfordwest St Thomas 30 265.72x
Ystradyfodwg 30 11.07x
Camrose 27 500.93x
Tenby St Mary In 27 94.04x
Narberth North 24 239.28x
Prendergast 23 266.82x
St Davids 23 180.25x
Kilgerran 21 308.82x
Llanelly 21 12.47x
Haverfordwest St Martin 20 191.39x
Mathry 19 391.75x
Aberystwith 18 48.31x
Llangeler 18 180.72x
Hubberston 17 205.56x
Kenarth 17 164.09x
Llandissilio 17 273.75x
Llangyfelach 17 146.93x
Merthyr Tydfil 17 5.72x
St Woollos 17 11.87x
Clase 16 13.93x
Bedwellty 15 6.62x
Carmarthen St Peter 15 23.47x
Llanfabon 15 92.82x
St Dogmells 15 100.13x
West Derby 15 2.44x
Islington London 14 0.81x
Lower Ystradgynlais 14 63.96x
Fishguard 13 106.38x
Llanguick 13 23.49x
Swansea St Thomas 13 41.88x
Abergwilly 12 97.72x
Dale 12 591.13x
Llanrian 12 240.00x
Robeston Wathan 12 618.56x
Cardiff St Mary 11 6.46x
St George Hanover 11 4.75x
Cilymaenllwyd 10 337.84x
Llanboidy 10 106.38x
Llanelly 10 23.55x
Llangranog 10 208.77x
Llanstadwell 10 54.26x
Llanwnda 10 163.93x
Michaelstone Super Avon 10 29.90x
Mile End New Town 10 41.27x
Rudbaxton 10 316.46x
Clydey 9 132.94x
Cosheston 9 261.63x
Furzey Park Portfield 9 545.45x
Lambeth 9 0.58x
Letterston 9 361.45x
Llantood 9 642.86x
North Meols 9 4.37x
Cwmdu 8 21.25x
Eglwys Wrw 8 290.91x
Ercall Magna 8 72.86x
Greasley 8 14.83x
Gresford Gwersyllt 8 38.48x
Haverfordwest St Mary 8 98.77x
Limehouse London 8 4.11x
Llanycefn 8 347.83x
Birkenhead 7 2.24x
Bridell 7 393.26x
Carew 7 124.33x
Cheadle 7 9.36x
Crosscanonby 7 13.86x
Hackney London 7 0.70x
Liverpool 7 0.55x
Llanover 7 15.98x
Llawhaden 7 213.41x
Northop 7 41.44x
Penderyn 7 72.24x
St Issells 7 58.72x
Whitchurch 7 137.80x

Top female names

These are the female first names most often recorded with the Mathias surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
Mary 150
Elizabeth 94
Martha 58
Margaret 55
Sarah 49
Ann 42
Anne 33
Jane 31
Ellen 25
Hannah 25
Annie 19
Rachel 17
Catherine 16
Emma 16
Emily 14
Eliza 12
Esther 11
Maria 11
Alice 10
Anna 9
Florence 9
Louisa 8
Charlotte 7
Frances 7
Margret 7
Caroline 6
Agnes 5
Fanny 5
Beatrice 4
Dinah 4
Kate 4
Laura 4
Phebe 4
Rebecca 4
Susannah 4
Ada 3
Amelia 3
Edith 3
Eleanor 3
Elizth. 3
Gwenllian 3
Helena 3
Lettice 3
Lizzie 3
Lucy 3
Margeret 3
Phoebe 3
Polly 3
Susan 3
M.A. 2

Top male names

These are the male first names most often recorded with the Mathias surname in 1881. Names are not merged, so initials, variant spellings and transcription quirks can appear as separate rows.

Name Count
John 149
William 118
Thomas 95
David 64
James 57
George 27
Henry 27
Richard 21
Benjamin 17
Edward 16
Joseph 16
Daniel 15
Alfred 13
Charles 12
Evan 12
Frederick 10
Arthur 7
Owen 7
Philip 7
Albert 6
Jonathan 6
Wm. 6
Griffith 5
Isaac 5
Jonah 4
Stephen 4
Benj. 3
Dan 3
Edwin 3
Jacob 3
Jno. 3
Lewis 3
Peter 3
Thos. 3
Walter 3
Claude 2
Fred. 2
Hugh 2
Joshua 2
Levi 2
Llewellyn 2
Mathias 2
Montague 2
Moses 2
Rees 2
Robert 2
Samuel 2
Stewart 2
Vivian 2
Wm.Henry 1

FAQ

Mathias surname: questions and answers

How common was the Mathias surname in 1881?

In 1881, 1,818 people were recorded with the Mathias surname. That placed it at #2,394 in the surname rankings for that year.

How common is the Mathias surname today?

The latest modern count shown here is 2,303 in 2016. That gives Mathias a modern rank of #2,821.

What does the Mathias surname mean?

A surname derived from the given name Matthew, which means "gift of God" in Hebrew.

What does the Mathias map show?

The map shows local surname concentration for the selected year. Darker areas have a stronger concentration of Mathias bearers relative to the surrounding population.

What records is this surname page based on?

The historical counts come from census surname records. The modern counts and neighbourhood summaries come from later surname distribution records. Counts are recorded bearers in those records, not a live estimate of everyone with the name today.